Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 10 Mar 2022

Summary

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2022
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch video here: PLENARY (HYBRID) [GHC]

The House met at 14:01.

House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

ELECTION OF TEMPORAL PRESIDING OFFICERS
(Draft Resolution)

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Chair, I move:
That the House notwithstanding Rule 27 on the election of temporary presiding officers, elects Mr Q R Dyantyi and Ms R M M Lesoma to act as temporary presiding officers in the Chamber during hybrid sittings of the National Assembly, as and when necessary, for the remainder of the Sixth Parliament.

Motion agreed to.
 

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

(The late Mr Duma Moses Nkosi)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Chairperson, I move
That the House—
(1) notes with great shock and sadness the passing of the ANC, Member of Parliament, Mr Duma Moses Nkosi on Thursday, 16 December 2021, at the age of 64;
(2) recalls that Mr Nkosi served as a member of the nation's first democratic Parliament in 1994 and went on to become the Executive Mayor of the City
of Ekurhuleni from 2001 to 2008;
(3) further recalls that in 2019, he returned to Parliament and that at the time of his passing he was serving as the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition;
(4) acknowledges that he was a great leader and servant of the people, a former Robben Islander and freedom fighter who dedicated his entire life to liberate and to serve the country;
(5) further acknowledges that he served in various prominent senior positions including serving as the president of the South African Local Government Association, Salga, and the first president of the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union, Saccawu;
(6) remembers him as a humble, selfless, respectful and principled man of integrity;
(7) believes that his passing is a great loss to the legislative sector and South Africa as a whole;
and
(8) extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Nkosi family, friends and to all South Africans.

Mr D W MACPHERSON: House Chairperson, the DA is deeply saddened by the passing of our portfolio committee chairperson on Trade, Industry and Competition hon Nkosi. You said he left us on 16 December 2021. Although Mr Nkosi had been ill for some times he continued to chair meetings of the committee right up until his passing. Mr Nkosi certainly had a colourful and long career in politics, speeding many decades from serving as a Member of Parliament in this House from 1994 to 2001, then as the executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni from 2001 until 2008, and coming back to join us in Parliament in 2019.
There are many stories of the good work that Mr Nkosi did as the executive mayor. There are a number of DA Members of Parliament, MPs, who were councillors under his mayorship have recalled to me, including the current executive mayor Tania Campbell who said this about Mr Nkosi, and I quote:
He was an astute politician who commanded an enormous respect by his peers. I will always remember his gentle and diplomatic leadership and the approach that he took.
Mayor Campbell has also said that her multiparty government would endeavour to embrace Mr Nkosi, and I quote:

... political tolerance and humility in the exercising of their duties and in government.
There can be no doubt or question about Mr Nkosi’s commitment to his political party, the ANC, to his country and to this
Parliament. This is something I am sure he will be remembers for when the history books are written.
Well, we did not always agree with some of the decisions that Mr Nkosi had taken as the chair of the committee, but he was someone who was approachable offline to raise concerns about issues that we felt were important to South Africa. The DA prays that Mr Nkosi’s wife, his children and his family will
find rest and peace during this sad time. I thank you.
Ms Y N YAKO: Chairperson, I first met hon Nkosi in the Sixth
Parliament. Please. excuse me with the load shedding and everything I am trying to find the best possible space for me to speak. When we first met he ask us to meet for lunch after our first sitting as a committee. During that meeting he took us through as to where we had been and the people we wanted to become as well as what we sought to achieve within the committee.

Hon Nkosi’s emphasis was on education. As a young woman it was
a forward plan. His was that these are politics and as such we
should always think outside the box - which is Parliament.
We worked incredibly well with this man who was liberal to his
thought. A man who really dislike bad language and was always
witty almost to a cony point with his remarks. We always butt
heads with the opposition, but we always found each other. His
family lost a husband, a dedicated father who would always
speak about being the only man within his household. This
showed that he took care of us just as he would to his
daughters when they would go out in outings.
Hon Nkosi was a professional to the very end. When I say that
to the very end I mean it because through his last breath we
were in a committee and we couldn’t understand how he would be
so strong. He was so ill, but yet he found himself and he was
there in presence. He continued to ignore even though we would
ask him, are you okay? He never wanted to give end.
I hope his daughters as well as Mrs Nkosi take pride in the
fact that the man they had in their lives was a very kind man.
He was a very dedicated man. He was a very professional man.
He was a man who was inspirational to us. As a young woman we

 
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did speak about education a lot. We did go and take each other
through as to what I wanted to be. He was a very consciousness
as to what direction I wanted to take in politics. For me it
means a lot because it not a lot a time to meet a man in
politics who would want to understand where you come from,
where you are going, a man who would want to understand
exactly what direction you wanted to take. This is a calibre
of a man I am speaking about when I speak about the former
chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Trade, Industry
and Competition. I hope his family do take into cognisance to
the fact that not that they had a father, not only that they
had a husband and not only that they had a family member, but
they also had a man who cared about the general direction that
South Africa wanted to take.
There are so much more that I could say about hon Nkosi. So
much more, but I don’t think there are words that could fulfil
my own heart as somebody who served with him, as somebody who
met with him, as somebody who spent time with, as somebody who
laughed with, cried with and lamented with him on many issues.
However, I do want to say to his family that you should know
that he did honour you, he did love you and that he was there.
He served this country to the very best possible that he

 
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could. May his soul rest in peace! Thank you very much, hon
Chair.
IsiZulu:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Sotswebhu ungathusi
umama uHlengwa ngiyakucela. [Ubuwelewele]. Cha, angakuthusi
mama.
English:
Ms M D HLENGWA: This is an intimidation, but I am not
intimidatable.
IsiZulu:
Thina njenge-IFP sizwakalisa okukhulu ukudabuka. Ubaba uNkosi
uke waba ngumlamuleli phakathi kwe-IFP ne-ANC eThokoza
ngakhoke bekukhona lobo budlelwane nalobo buhlobo, yingakho
nje siphatheke kabi.
English:
It is with deep sadness that the IFP heard of the death of hon
Nkosi. I wish to extend our deepest condolences - on behalf of
His Excellency, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the President of
the IFP, hon Velenkosini Hlabisa, and the IFP Parliamentary
caucus, to the family and friends of the hon Nkosi, as well as

 
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his colleagues in the ANC, and those members that served
alongside him in the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry
and Competition.
In his role as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on
Trade and Industry and Competition, he served the committee
with passion, integrity and diligence. His institutional
knowledge of Parliament and his experience as a Mayor of
Ekurhuleni from 2001 to 2008, enriched his leadership skills,
which he carried over into his role in the Portfolio Committee
on Trade and Industry. His leadership will be greatly missed
and the IFP would like to acknowledge the life and work of hon
Nkosi.
Hon members, let us honour the life of hon Nkosi by diligently
fulfilling our oversight duties as Parliament. Let his memory
be a strong reminder that our work should be guided by
passion, dedication and always, with the goal of creating a
better future for our people.
On behalf of our leader in Parliament, Prince Mangosuthu
Buthelezi, and all the IFP Members in the National Assembly, I
would like to again extend our sincere condolences on this
tragic loss. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

 
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Mr F J MULDER: Hon House Chair, I got to know the late hon
member Duma Moses Nkosi as a humble person who refrained from
raising his voice, refrained from bitter speech or harsh
language and he was never unkind although his views often
differ from that of opposition parties more especially that of
the FF Plus.
We often had in depth discussions on our total opposite
political views. And I respected the fact that he would argue,
debate, motivate and defend his views while listening to the
political views of others.
The late hon Nkosi was a devoted lifelong community servant
and stood proud for what he believed till the end of his days.
The former trade unionist, Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni,
member of the South African Communist Party, SACP, in Gauteng,
Member of Parliament and Comrades Marathon runner had a
disciplined mind often took time to have personal discussions
with me while serving in the Portfolio Committee of Trade and
Industry and Competition.
The FF Plus offers its condolences to the family of hon Nkosi
and his loved ones. Thank you, Chairperson.

 
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Ms M E SUKERS: Chairperson, I speak on behalf of our Deputy
President, hon Wayne Thring, who served with hon Nkosi. On
behalf of the President of the ACDP, Reverend Dr Kenneth
Meshoe, our leadership and members, allow me to once again
offer our sincere condolences to the family of hon Duma Nkosi
as well as his broader family within the ANC.
My first face to face meeting with hon Nkosi was over a meal.
His office called to invite me to have lunch with the Chair of
the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition, DTIC,
Portfolio Committee. This was not long after we had been sworn
in as newly elected Members of Parliament, MPs in 2019. It was
at this lunch meeting that I got to know a little better the
man seated on the chair of our committee. I discovered that we
both served in the local government for many years. The
difference being that he was a former Mayor.
I found the hon Nkosi to be an intelligent, decent, up right,
always punctual and hardworking MP. Though we served at our
opposing sides of the political fence and our meetings were at
times very robust with hon Nkosi. I could agree to disagree
while simultaneously both maintaining our civil and respectful
posture towards each other.

 
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Indeed, we are a poorer with the passing of hon Nkosi. He has
left behind in his family and political party a vacuum which
will not be easy to fill. Allow me to encourage the family of
hon Nkosi with the following quotations. Alan Keller says and
I quote:
What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never
lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
Hebrew proverb says and I quote:
Say not in grief that they are gone, but give thanks that
they were yours.
Mathew 5:4 says and I quote:
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.
Psalm 34:18 says and I quote:
The LORD is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those
whose spirits are crushed.
Mathew 11:28:30 says and I quote:

 
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Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give
you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Once again our prayers and condolences go to the family,
friends and relatives of hon Nkosi.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu N L S KWANKWA: Sihlalo weNdlu, ndima apha egameni le-UDM
ndize kugxwala emswaneni ngesi sithwakumbe sokushiywa kwethu
nguBhut’Duma. Bendisithi nguBhut’Duma mna xa ndimbiza kuba
kaloku leyo yindlela ebesithetha ngayo njengama Afrika. Uyenye
yeenkokheli ebekusithiwa xa kusiyiwa kwiikomiti zemicimbi
yamasebe, nanjengoko kungasoloko kuvisiswana phaya kuba kaloku
abantu abafani namanzi ababheki kwicala elinye, athi noxa
sisilwa nje kodwa sibe sihloniphene. Besiyihloniphile into
ethi mdala kuthi noxa simphikisa nje.
Kula komiti yemicimbi yesebe ebesebenza kuyo, njengoko kaloku
thina sifana neza ntaka kuthiwa zintambanane, siphephezela
apho sithanda khona. Bekusithi kula Komiti yeMicimbi yeSebe
lezoRhwebo noShishino xa ndithe ndayindwendwela njengomoya
oyingcwele, sifike sigagane noBhut’Duma siphikisane ukanti

 
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ngamanye amaxesha sivumelane. Okubalulekileyo kukuba, uyenye
yeenkokeli endizaziyo ukuba zithobekile kwaye xa zithetha
zithi, ikamva loMzantsi Afrika ngoku Nqabayomzi likuni
njengeenkokheli ezintsha. Nokuba thina simoshile, xa
ningalungisi apho simoshe khona, niza kuzilungiselela lo
Mzantsi Afrika kwixa elizayo.
Ndifuna ukuthi kusapho lakwaNkosi, izihlobo nezalamane,
umbutho wakhe i-ANC, tutwini kuni, akuhlanga lungehlanga,
thuthuzelekani. Lalani ngenxeba kwaye sikhala nani. Ndifuna
ukuthi, memze aphumle ngonaphakade Thixo, umkhanyisele
ngokhanyiso olungacimiyo. Siyabulela.
IsiZulu:
Mnu C H M SIBISI: Angibonge, Sihlalo, siyi-NFP ngokukhulu
ukuthobeka sifisa ukudlulisa amazwi enduduzo emndenini,
kungosikazi kababa uDuma, izihlobo kanye nombutho we-ANC.
Sithi duduzekani ngalokhu okuyisehlo esehlile. Umhlonishwa
uNkosi ube ngomunye wabasebenzi bePhalamende kusukela
ngezikhathi zokuqala zenkululeko yaleli lizwe. Usebenzele
abantu baseNingizimu Afrika isikhathi eside.
Ngakho sinethemba ukuthi umphakathi waseNingizimu Afrika
uyalila nawo uyadabuka ngokuzwa izindaba zokudlula kwakhe

 
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emhlabeni. Iningizimu Afrika-ke igqenywe ingozi engeqiwa
ntwala ngalokhu kuhanjelwa yiqhawe ebelifana nomhlonishwa
ubaba uNkosi. Sithi-ke umphefumulo wakhe sengathi ungalala
ngokuthula. Akwehlanga lungehlanga. Siyabonga, Sihlalo weNdlu.
English:
Mr S M JAFTA: ... is not favouring me where I am. May I please
switch off my video.
THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): It’s off already. You
may proceed.
Mr S M JAFTA: Thank you, Chairperson. The AIC wishes to deep
its revolutionary banner in memory of our colleague, comrade
Duma Moses Nkosi, who joins other civil servants like cadre
Jackson Mthembu Collins Chabane, to form a formidable alliance
of the living dead.
Comrade Nkosi was kind. He was part of the first batch of
parliamentarians who joined the National Assembly in 1994
alongside Joe Modise, Baleka Mbethe, Bantu Holomisa and many
others. It was in this period that the Transformative
Legislative Framework was adopted. He saw the passing of
radical legislation such as the Employment Equity Act, Choice

 
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on the Termination of Pregnancy Act, the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, 1996 and a host of other ground-
breaking laws. Comrade Nkosi was right at the centre of these
... [Inaudible] ...
Not only was his leadership attributes demonstrated by his
involvement in parliamentary committee, but they were also
revealed through his ability to lead key institutions like the
Gauteng Provincial Legislature, South African Commercial
Gauteng Workers Union and the South African Local Government
Association in Gauteng. He was also the Executive Mayor of
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan.
We, in deed lost a great soul, a leader and a public servant.
May his soul rest in peace. Once again, the AIC convey its
condolences to his dearest family.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chairperson, AL-JAMAAH has a
special place in each heart of all former Robben Islanders who
brought about our revolution. We extend our deepest sympathies
and prayers to the family of Mr Duma Moses Nkosi on his sudden
demise on 16 December 2021. Mr Nkosi was a struggle veteran,
and we have a very few left. We many years in Robben Island
was born as a servant to his people.

 
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He was amongst the first crop of lawmakers to serve in the
country’s first democratically elected government - from a
hero to a Member of Parliament. He held many vital positions
which has been mentioned by the hon members. While holding all
these positions, Mr Nkosi did not shy away from exposing
capitalist exploitation – a problem that we still have today.
But he left behind a legacy which we must fulfil, and that is
to continue to struggle towards real freedom, economic
transformation, economic freedom in society and to build
sustainable communities like smart cities and smart villages
and smart locations and not live in Stone Age ...
[Inaudible.].
AL-JAMA’AH’s heartfelt condolences to his family, the ANC and
his constituency - but he didn’t have constituency, he was a
Member of Parliament for all South Africans and all Members of
Parliament. May our prayers be a source of comfort to his
family during the difficult time. Thank you very much, hon
House Chair.
Mr S H MBUYANE: House Chairperson, greetings to the Chief Whip
of the Majority Party and hon members, and special greetings
to the Nkosi family. We gathered here to pay tribute to a
beloved son of our liberation movement, a fierce and resolute

 
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warrior of our working class, a champion for the poor and the
marginalised. We are here to celebrate a life well lived, a
struggle well fought and selfless service well undertaken. A
friend, a colleague and a noble servant, a comrade, and ...
Chair, this thing was just ... on behalf of the ANC, the
movement of which comrade honourable proudly served for many
years, I would like to take this opportunity to convey pour
deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family,
friends and comrades. His passing is indeed a huge loss to the
broader revolutionary alliance and has continued battling for
the victory of the national democratic revolution.
Hon Duma’s talent, skill and experience accumulated through
many years of leading in tripartite alliance became invaluable
to the ANC in Parliament and the people of South Africa as a
whole. Hon Duma spent his life as a community activist, trade
unionist, a leader and a civil servant. He cut his teeth as
the ANC activist from 1979 and deepened his working class
consciousness in the trade union movement as a shop steward at
Makro due to the commitment and love for the working class. He
was later elected as a president of the working class
conscious.

 
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He served as the Chairperson of the ANC branch in Thokoza from
1990 to 1996. He was elected amongst the first crop of the ANC
Members of Parliament in 1994, serving until 2001, wherein he
chaired the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Energy for four
years. Therefore, he served as a second major of Ekurhuleni
Metropolitan Municipality in 2001, helping to steer the
municipality made up of a number of towns, into a single
entity.
True to his modest and humble character, Comrade Duma was
always willing to serve the people of South Africa in whatever
capacity that is aligned with the need of the poor and
dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life of the
people. In 2011, he joined the Economic Development department
as a senior official for eight years. During this period, he
worked diligently as part of the collective that addressed
ways to create jobs and support local communities through
addressing challenges faced by investors in small businesses.
He helped unblock a number of key projects, including those in
the supply of water and energy security for business across
the length and breadth of our country.
In 2019, he was elected again as a Member of Parliament, this
time to serve as a Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on

 
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Trade and Industry. He chaired our committee with humility and
maturity, and exhibited profound wisdom and knowledge. He was
never arrogant and had the highest level of integrity, a true
leader who was always exemplary, and accommodative of
divergent views. It was indeed an honour to have close with an
individual with such as inspiring humanity and courageous
spirit.
He was one of the greatest asset of the ANC, the alliance and
the activist Parliament, which we have all committed ourselves
to, which we have all committed ourselves to. What is left for
us is to pick up where he left off and continue with the
battle for social transformation of our people. We have to
confront the multiple crisis facing South Africa such as the
intractable high level of unemployment, poverty, inequality
and associate crisis of social reproduction.
We would be failing his legacy of we do not take this task
seriously. Even when he was in his weakest, hon Nkosi remained
committed to serving the people of South Africa until the day
he ceased to be with us. He was a seasoned, principled
politician, a true organic leader and intellectual, a champion
of the working class and a very humble servant of the people.

 
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IsiZulu:
Hlubi! Dlamini! Wena we Kunene! Kwalakwala!
English:
I thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPESON (Ms M G Boroto): Siyathokoza Mhlonishwa
[Thank you, honourable]. That concludes the speaker’s list on
this matter. I take it that hon members that there are no
objections to the motion being adopted. Will members rise to
observe a moment of silence in memory of D M Nkosi - the
family must be seated. Thank you, you may be seated.
The presiding officers associate themselves with the motion
and the condolences of the House will be conveyed to the Nkosi
family. Maybe just as an announcement before we proceed,
Parliament has provided the condolence motion book outside
these doors and you will be allowed to write your messages
from Parliament. Until we go on recess, it is only then that
the books will be taken to the family. Please, those who are
coming into the Chamber, let’s proceed and let’s make sure
that we sign that condolence book. The third motion on the
Order Paper is also in the name of the Chief Whip of the
Majority Party.

 
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Debate concluded.
Motion of condolence for the late Mr D M Nkosi agreed to.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Moloko Maggie Tlou)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chair, I move
without notice:
That the House –
(1)
(2)
notes with deep sadness the passing of ANC Member
of Parliament, the honourable Ms Moloko Maggie
Tlou on Thursday, 3 February 2022;
acknowledges that Maggie Tlou, affectionately
known as Mmane Maggie, enjoyed an illustrious
political career marked by dedication, service and
selflessness;

 
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(3)
(4)
further acknowledges that she was a diligent
activist from the Progressive Women’s Movement who
was active in the Winterveldt area during the 80s;
remembers that her political credentials include
serving as regional executive committee member of
both the ANC and the ANC Women’s League in Tshwane
and later a member of the Provincial Executive
Committee of the ANC in Gauteng from 2014 to 2018;
(5)
further remembers that she was deployed to the
Gauteng Provincial Legislature as a Member of
provincial Legislature, where she served in the
Portfolio Committees on Economic Development and
Education;
(6)
recalls that after 10 years in the legislature,
following the 2019 general elections, she was
deployed to the National Assembly as a Member of
Parliament;
(7)
further recalls that at the time of her passing
she was serving in the Portfolio Committee on Co-
operative Governance and Traditional Affairs,

 
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known as Cogta, where she leaves an enduring and
shining legacy; and
(8)
extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to
the Tlou family – the two daughters are here with
us, Thembi - Kgomotso and last born Mmakau.
Sesotho:
Mme wa dikgutsana, setjhaba se ya lla ka wena. Nkwe ya mabala,
robala ka kgotso.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPESON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you, Chief Whip. I
will just ask the two daughters who are with us to stand up so
that the members can see you. Thank you very much.
Mr E R J SPIES: Thank you, hon Chairperson, hon members and a
special greeting to the family of hon Tlou. Today I rise on
behalf of the Democratic Alliance and in particular on behalf
of my colleague, hon Brink, who unfortunately cannot be here
today. I did not have the honour and privilege to know hon
Tlou for very long because I only joined the committee last
year.

 
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However, I share in the sentiments and the tribute that my hon
colleague has written down. We would like to extend our
heartfelt condolences to the African National Congress and the
Tlou family on the passing of hon Maggie Tlou. As a member of
the 2019 intake of Members of Parliament, I regret not having
more time with ma’m Tlou due COVID-19 and lockdown as most of
our committee interaction since the election has been virtual.
Nevertheless, I do remember the few opportunities we had to
attend in person meetings and oversights visits together.
Despite our differences in politics and age, she treated me
with warmth and friendliness and the utmost respect.
On occasion she also spoke to me in my home language. The
surest way of expressing empathy with someone especially in
this country of ours. We both lived in Pretoria and so we had
a lot to talk about. I remember the petition that hon Tlou
brought to the committee to assist the community of ...
[Inaudible.] ... with long overdue housing allocations. At her
insistence, both the city and the province were called to
explain themselves at the committee. The people of ...
[Inaudible.] ... were well served by her intervention.
Today, we honour the memory of hon Tlou and we pray that God
gives comfort to her family. The family I want to say, please,

 
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know that you are in our thoughts and our prayers, and we
share in your sorrow. May her beautiful soul rest in peace. In
the words of Helen Keller, “What we have once enjoyed we can
never lose, all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” I
thank you.
Mr K CEZA: Chairperson, allow us to pay homage to mam’Tlou.
The EFF is quite deeply saddened by the passing of mam’Tlou,
who passed away on the 3 February 2022. We shall miss her
delayed elastics from the rhythm of her voice, poised and well
prepared member of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative
Governance and Tradition Affairs.
Hon members, we meet here today with heavy hearts and sorrow.
I do not know and I did not have to remember mam’Tlou by her
first names. As a young African man, I thought, through the
right of passage, to address the elderly with the respect they
deserve. As we commemorate a life well lived, mam’Tlou was an
epitome, an experienced member of the committee who was
determined to conduct an oversight over executive departments,
provinces and municipalities. A journey that has taken her
many years. Some days filled with laughter, some filled with
tears.

 
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At a difficult period, such as lockdown, we crumbled at yet
another loss, but journey well-travelled. As Che Guevara once
said: “Live your life not celebrating victories, but
overcoming defeats” We believe that hon mam’Tlou’s passing
also indicates the victories over those obstacles in the
struggle for clean and sound governance. Leaving young people
... [Interjections.] [Inaudible.] ... in terms of
participating in the country’s politics, past determining
their fate in economic liberation than otherwise currently
determined in certain economic cycle. This is what is what we
engaged on with mam’Tlou.
Mam’Tlou understood well that as members of the portfolio
committee, in order to defeat the common enemy of corruption,
maladministration and financial mismanagement as often raised
in the auditor general’s report, the committee should be able
to propel forward the principles of accountability, for us to
unite, to hold those liable accountable. This is to say that
we have drawn from the fountain of knowledge in local
government and legislation that accompanies it in mam’Tlou.
We are therefore together with mam’Faith Muthambi who presided
over the committee that was visited by Vietnamese
parliamentary members, exchanging gifts which we have declared

 
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in Parliament, thanks God. Hon members, allow me to quote one
of the mystic in the eastern philosopher by the name Hazrat
Inayat Khan:
I have loved in life and I have been loved,
and I have been raised above life's joy and sorrow.
My heart, aflame in love, set afire every heart that came
in touch with it. A thousand deaths my heart has died,
and thanks be to love, it lives yet.
There can be no rebirth without a dark night towards the
horizon of the soul, a total annihilation of all that you
believed in and thought that you were. I seek the morning
breeze at a better place where the inevitable dwells. Your
potential was exhausted to the end, and you sat in the
committee with diligent and commitments.
Let me take this opportunity to let you know, mam’Tlou, that
those you left behind will not give up the fight from the
issues you raised of artisans’ replacement within Municipal
Infrastructure Support Agent, MISA, budget that the committee
needed to focus and target its attention on most salient
matters and recommend the increasing disaster recovery grant
and the fact of climate change. These are the issue that you

 
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expound mam’Tlou. The EFF is therefore extending its
condolences. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
IsiXhosa:
Wanga umphefumlo wakhe ongasekhoyo ungaphumla ngoxolo
olungunaphakade. [May her departed soul rest in eternal
peace.]
Thank you.
Ms Z MAJOZI: Chairperson, on behalf of Prince Buthelezi who
served with mam’Tlou in the portfolio committee on Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs, I would say; the IFP would
like to offer its sincere condolences to the family and
friends of the hon Ms Moloko Maggie Tlou, as well as her
colleagues in the ANC, and those members that served alongside
her in the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs.
As a nation, we have experienced so much loss over the past
two years, and our hearts are heavy as we yet again have to
bid farewell to one of our fellow members. Hon. Tlou was
described by her fellow COGTA committee members as a humble,
selfless, disciplined community development worker and servant

 
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of the people, especially for those who had been historically
disadvantaged. She used the committee as the means to demand
that service delivery is delivered to the people.
Ms Tlou was deployed to the National Assembly after the 2019
elections, and had served her party and the people of South
Africa with diligent. Since the 80s, she was a member of the
Progressive Women’s Movement, and later served in leadership
roles in the ANC Women’s League structures. We would like to
acknowledge and celebrate hon Tlou’s life of service, and
commit to honouring her legacy of selfless dedication in the
pursuit of service delivery for our people.
Condolences to the two daughters of mam’Tlou. Losing a loved
one is hurting, but losing a parent is devastating. I pray
that God gives them strength to overcome this hard time. I
again echo the heartfelt condolences of our leader in
Parliament, his Excellency, hon Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi,
as well as all the Chief Whip and all members of the IFP
caucus in the National Assembly. May her soul rest in peace.
Thank you, Chairperson.
Mr I M GROENEWALD: House Chair, on behalf of the FF Plus, I
want to convey our deepest condolences to the family,

 
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friends, and colleagues of hon Tlou. Hon Tlou was a member of
the Portfolio Committee of Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs, of which I am also a member. She served
with pride and commitment and was an informed and experienced
colleague.
She was very concerned about the state of municipalities and
the lack of adequate service delivery. Prior to her election
to the national assembly, she served her community as a member
of the Gauteng provincial legislature. With her experience,
and her love for local government, she made constructive
contributions to the portfolio committee.
She was dedicated to her organization, the ANC. I also wish to
express our sincere condolences with the ANC. With her loved
ones I wish to share the following; In sorrow, we mourn those
we’ve lost. In gratitude, we embrace those around us. In
sympathy, we reach out to those who grieve and pray that God
for ever hold you in His peace. Thank you, House Chair.
Mrs M E SUKERS: Thank you Chairperson, for the sake of
connection I’ll just keep my video off. On behalf of our
President, Rev Kenneth Meshoe, the executive and the members

 
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of the ACDP, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family
of mama Tlou and the political family the ANC.
In reading the background of mam Maggie and that she laboured
in politics since the 80s, it filled me with so much
admiration for a woman whom I never had the privilege to speak
to but upon whose soul shoulders us as the next generation of
women leaders are standing.
We were but children in the 80s and the song writer rightfully
said:
“What shall I render to Jehovah for he has done so very
much for me.”
We thank God for the leaders that we as young women of this
generation have in women like mam Tlou. We’d like to extend
our thanks to the children of mam Moloko Maggie Tlou for the
sacrifice they had to make during their mother’s illustrious
political career and service to our country.
We want to encourage you today that as Africans we know that
death is but a doorway. For those who believe in Christ and
live for him, it is the beginning of eternal life with the one

 
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we love and who loved us before we were even born. Our
blessing to you today, may the Lord bless you, keep you and
make his face shine upon you in your time of loss. Thank you
Chair.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Thank you very much House Chair. On behalf
of the UDM, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the
family, relatives, friends, comrades in the congress movement
the ANC of MaTlou.
MaTlou was one of the Members of Parliament who was dedicated
and committed to community development and courses in
particular of women empowerment. Nowhere was her role as a
gender activist more evident than in a role as an activist in
the progressive women’s movement. Even if she was serving as a
member or the Portfolio Committee on Cogta, she was always
concerned about the state of municipalities and worked hard to
try and ensure that we provided the necessary support that we
could as this House in order to ensure that municipalities
without exception operated at optimal level and that they are
able to serve the people of South Africa.
I would like to say that to us as the UDM, mam Tlou came
across as a selfless leader who was committed to the course of

 
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building a better life for all but more especially those who
are previously disadvantaged.
She leaves an admirable legacy in the political space and
we’ll forever remember her for her unbiased views and her
commitment to building a better life for all.
To the Tlou family and loved ones, you are in our prayers. We
hope you find peace and comfort in your time of grief.
Sesotho:
Ka Sesotho ba re, robala ka kgotso mme Tlou. Ke a leboha.
IsiZulu:
Mnu C H M SIBISI: Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, siyi-NFP sifisa
ukudlulisa amazwi enduduzo emndenini kamama uMaggie Tlou,
amadodakazi, abangane, nezihlobo kanye nozakwabo abenabo
ekomidini kwa-Cogta nasebuthweni wakhe u-African National
Congress. Njengoba besaqhubeka bezilile bezilela ukudlula
kwakhe emhlabeni, siyethemba ukuthi imizwa nemicabango
enidlula kuyo kulesi sikhathi esinzima uNkulunkulu uzokwazi
ukunipha amandla, aniqinise nikwazi ukubhekane nazo zonke noma
nikwazi ukubhekana nesimo esibuhlungu sokushiywa yilungu
lomndeni futhi yilungu lobulungu le-ANC. Siyethemba ukuthi

 
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imikhuleko iyoniqinisa futhi iniduduze nikwazi ukubheka
phambili. Sifisa sengathi uNkulunkulu anganibusisa abese
esebusisa nomphefumulo wakhe ulale ngokuthula. Ngiyathokoza
Sihlalo.
Mr S M JAFTA: Thank you Chair. As the leadership of the AIC,
we wish to pass our condolences to the family of mama Moloko
Tlou. Mama Tlou served in the Cogta Portfolio Committee after
the 2019 general elections.
We learned through her party the ANC that she held values of
unity of purpose to heart. These values are consistent with
our own commitment to building a united, cohesive and non-
racial democratic South Africa.
Their leadership roles were wide and disperse. She served in
the ANC Women’s League structures at both regional and
provincial level. She also served in the Gauteng ANC PEC from
2014 to 2018. Mam Tlou as attested by her colleagues, was
diligent and hard working. May her resilience spirit rest in
eternal peace. Thank you.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much hon House Chair. Hon
House Chair, on behalf of Al Jama-ah and our constituency in

 
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Winterveld, I would like to express our sincere condolences to
the family, friends, members of the ANC, fellow Members of
Parliament on the death of mama Maggie who sadly passed away
on 3 February 2022.
It is an honour to have her two daughters here with us today
and we appreciate the special effort they made to join us in
the Good Hope Chamber.
Mama Maggie was a conscientious person who ensured that the
officials response to enquiries from her constituency. That
was an example for me and I hope I can follow her example.
While serving in Cogta she insisted that the director general
on audit outcomes responds to questions relating to payments
made to contractors every month. So, there was attention to
detail.
We also remember her strong and committed leadership displayed
in the ANC Women’s League at regional and provincial level.
This was going to be advanced because of the objective to
bring about more involvement by women in Parliament.

 
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She will be remembered as a humble and committed person who
served the community with dignity. Although I’m only an
alternative member of Cogta, the few weekends I attended, mama
Maggie stood out as a giant leader. Our thoughts and prayers
are with the family and friends during this time of their
bereavement. We pray they find comfort in the memories and
great legacy she has left behind and she indeed left behind a
great legacy. Thank you very much hon House Chair.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu G G MPUMZA: Mandibulele Sihlalo.
English:
The family of hon Maggie Tlou, dear Comrades and friends, hon
members, we stand before you today on behalf on hon Tlou whose
organisation is the ANC, to convey our heartfelt condolences
to the family, the friends and Tlou’s daughters, in
particular. Together with her, we were called upon by the
National Liberation Movement to serve the people of this
country and in Parliament to act as agents of transformation
and replace the noble ideas of nonracialism, nonsexism and the
democratic social order.

 
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We are here to salute and commemorate a life of sacrifice, a
struggle that was lived by hon Tlou, from the early age in the
1980s. Hon Tlou became part of the generation of activists
that would fell the flames offreedom. This is a generation
that responded to the clarion call made by the former
President of the ANC, Oliver Tambo, when he said:
Our own tasks are very clear. To bring about the kind of
society that is visualised in the Freedom Charter, we
have to break down and destroy the old order. We have to
make apartheid unworkable and our country ungovernable.
The accomplishment of these tasks will create the
situation for us to overthrow the apartheid regime and
for power to pass into the hands of the people as a
whole.
A generation of activists that hon Tlou was part of, is a
generation that acted as the midwives of political liberation,
as South Africa transitioned from colonial apartheid and
birthed a new democratic society. She cut her clothes, she cut
her political links in the UDF activities, and became one of
the scores of women who took a decision to challenge
patriarchal retions in society. This is at the time when it

 
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was not fashionable even within the movement, some were still
trapped in the backward cultural practices.
We owe women like hon Tlou a great debt of gratitude for
insisting that the liberation drive and the broader society
placed the gender question at the centre of development. This
is how we all eventually appreciated that. Total liberation of
the blacks in general, and Africans in particular, will be
incomplete without answering the question of the liberation of
women. Hon Chairperson, allow me to say that, hon Tlou did not
perceive, but lived and breathed a commune solidarity,
underpinned by her boundless fountain of love and a deep faith
in the values and aspirations of a people, as was symbolised
by her activities around addressing the question of non-
housing in Nellmapius in Tshwane.
The ideological orientation of hon Maggie Tlou assimilated in
the days of gender activism from the rank and file of the
Progressive Women’s Movement continued to be evident as she
carried out her tasks in the various areas of her deployment
in the democratic state. It became clear to all of us that as
a legislature in Parliament, her life mission was to ensure
that the gender question is answered in the process of
implementing development programmes.

 
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This was a useful quality we appreciated about her because
women constitute the majority of the population in our country
and most of the socioeconomic challenges we face, affect women
the most, whether it’s unemployment, poverty inequality, it is
women that are marginalised than any other social structure.
For the marginalisation of women, the fact that power
relations are schooled in favour of men, has led to the ugly
phenomenon of gender based violence and femicide.
This is something which deeply worried her in our conversation
and she assisted us to analyse the cause and effect of this
phenomenon, and further assisted in answering the question,
what needs to be done? She appreciated her strong her views on
this issue and men who are engaging in the process of learning
and re-learning, she forced us to reflect on our rule and what
changes we need to make at a personal level. This is how
provocative she was, even with her gentle approach.
As part of honouring her and the work that she dedicated her
entire life to complete, we must pick up the spear and
continue to strike against patriarchy. For us men it may be an
even tougher struggle because it may be a struggle to change
approaches towards women, that we have been socialised to
espouse since boyhood. In her honour we recommit ourselves to

 
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the noble ideas to nonracialism, nonsexism, democratic and
prosperous society. Rest in Peace, Comrade Maggie Tlou. Thank
you.
Debate concluded.
IsiXhosa:
USIHLALO WENDLU (Ms M G Boroto): Siyabulela, tata.
English:
As we conclude that speaker’s list, I take it, hon members,
that there is no objection to the motion. Now, may we rise to
observe a moment of silence in the memory of Mamu’Tlou.
Motion agreed to, members standing.
Motion of Condolence for the late Ms M M Tlou is agreed to.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON
COMMUNICATIONS ON ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
Mr B M MANELI: Hon House Chair, hon Ministers and hon Deputy
Ministers, hon members, committee support staff and fellow

 
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South Africans I rise to introduce to this House the report on
the annual report and financial statements of the State
Information Technology agency, Sita, almost two days since
this august House engaged in a very important debate as a way
of celebrating the International Women’s Day in the year 2022
under the theme, and I quote, “Gender Equality Today for a
Sustainable Tomorrow.”
This theme remains relevant in our oversight task of ensuring
state-owned companies, SOCs, like Sita deliver in their
developmental mandate in a way that is transformative and
sustainable.
This remains our understanding on why we need to repurpose
Sita as a state information and communication technology, ICT,
agency as part of the reconfiguration and or rationalisation
process of the SOCs, as pronounced by His Excellency the
President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, in the Sona since the
installation of this Sixth Administration.
Hon House Chairperson, according to section 5 of the Money
Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act the National
Assembly through its committees must annually asses the
performance of each National department. The committee must

 
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submit the annual Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report,
BRRR, for the department as it falls under its oversight
responsibilities for tabling in the National Assembly.
This process happens every October of each year, where the
committee assess service delivery performance given available
resources. Evaluate effective and efficient use as well as the
forward allocation of resources and make recommendations on
the forward use of resources.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications, considered the
performance and submissions to National Treasury for the
medium-term periods of the two departments reporting to it;
namely the Department of Communications and Digital
Technologies and Government Communications and Information
Systems, GCIS.
Furthermore, the committee is mandated to assess all entities
reporting to the two departments and as such the following
entities financial performance of 2020-21 financial year was
scrutinised. One being the Film and Publications Boards, FPB,
the Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa,
Sentech, Boardband Infraco, BBI, the National Electronic Media
Institute, Nemisa, the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC,

 
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Universal Service and Access Agency of SA, Usaasa, the
Universal Service and Access Fund, Usaf, and ZEDNA on 9 and 10
November 2021.
The Sita tabled its report only after the BRRR was concluded
while SA Post Office, Sapo, has yet to table its annual report
for the period.
The committee met with Sita on 15 February 2022. This report
is the summary of the reporting of Sita tabled on 30 November
2021 after the BRRR process was concluded by the committee as
indicated above.
Hon members, whilst the pandemic and the economy turned down
affected the performance of Sita like other entities, it is
worth noting that Sita achieved 72,22% of its annual targets
with the qualified audit opinion. It is quite an improvement
from the 2019-20 financial year of 60% annual target
achievement.
In keeping with the National Development, NDP, 2030, and the
Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, commissioned perspectives
on digital transformation in the period under review, Sita

 
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fulfilled a pertinent role by enabling government departments
to deliver public services.
Furthermore, the rate of digital transformation was
accelerated and a compelling case was made for the greater use
of digital technologies. To this end, Sita as the ICT agency
of government enabled government departments to operate
remotely and seamlessly making available more digital
platforms while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
In addition, more e-Services were developed, capacity on crowd
was optimally utilised and the backlog on the certifications
for higher education was incrementally reduced for the
convenience of citizens. All this was done without
compromising the financial viability of Sita as the self-
funded SOC.
Fellow South Africans, the observations and recommendations of
the committee as stated in the report are therefore put before
this august House for consideration. However, it must be
placed on record that contrary to the negative narrative that
South Africans are made to believe about failing cadre
deployment and collapsing state entities, Sita remains one
example where a competent Executive Caretaker, Luvuyo Keyise,

 
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was brought in to lead the entity. Competent men and women
were attracted back to the entity to fill vacancies and ensure
its repurposing. History has begun to absolve us. I thank you,
House Chair. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
The ACTING CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY (Ms R M M Lesoma):
Hon House Chair, I move that the report be accepted by this
House.
Declaration of Votes:
Ms T K BODLANI: Thank you so much, Chairperson, the DA
welcomes the report of the Portfolio Committee on
Communications and Digital Technologies on the annual report
and financial statements of the State Information Technology
Agency, Sita. Noting that the Sita tabled its report only
after the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR,
process was concluded. The committee met with the Sita on 15
February 2022.
As an information and communications technology, ICT, agency
of government, this entity is well-placed to be a springboard
of improving the lives of South Africans by enhancing public

 
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service delivery and reaching the ever illusive 4th Industrial
Revolution by the government of the day.
The Sita mandate is clear, which is to improve service
delivery to the public through the provision of information
technology, information systems and related services in a
maintained information system, security environments to
government departments and public bodies, and to promote
efficiency in our departments and public bodies using
information technology.
With that said, we note 15 recommendations made by the
committee. From the 15 recommendations, allow me to highlight
five of the 15. Firstly, all the areas of underachievement as
indicated by the Auditor-General are addressed expediently.
The DA holds highly the process of auditing and its importance
cannot be overstated. We rely on such professional and
impartial process as an oversight and accountability
mechanism. We call upon the management and the board to put
every resource available to address all matters raised by the
Auditor-General. Noting that any auditor report has an effect
in how an organization is perceived by the public and how the
organization sees itself.

 
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Secondly, is that the committee acknowledges that the entity
should not depend on external outsourcing and should instead
create internal skills to enable the organization to be self-
sustainable. As the DA, we fully support this recommendation
as it would ensure that the agency builds solid institutional
knowledge and will not find itself paying consultants
perpetually without any transfer of skills to the entity as we
have seen in many government departments and state-owned
companies, which are today on the brink of collapse.
Thirdly, is that we look at an amount of R1,5 million for a
nonexistence conference must be recovered. The DA notes that
the agency is self-funded. That said, every cent meant to
bring South Africans up matters. The loss of any funds,
whether through corruption or fruitless expenditure is felt by
the end users. We will support every endeavour by the Sita to
recover the R1,5 million and call upon the agency to be
expedient in recovering the R1,5 million.
Fourthly, is that the tender processes become transparent with
accountability and integrity using the digital platforms
created by the Sita for a proper communication with all
stakeholders irrespective of the delegations of some of the
supply chain management responsibilities of the department.

 
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Again, public perception is everything. The DA fully supports
the above recommendation of the committee. All service
providers have a right to an open tender system. This will
ensure that we eliminate any sense of doubt about the winning
bidder. This will go a long way in building public trust in
the tender system.
Lastly, which I would like to expand on from the committee is
that the Sita’s plans to continue to recover all finances
obtained illegally by companies for unused software licenses
across the state as supported by the committee. Every cent
matters if the Sita as an entity of government is going to
succeed in providing e-government services and help the
economy of South Africa. This is a crucial matter which should
be addressed with the urgency it deserves. I thank you,
Chairperson.
Mr S TAMBO: Thank you, House Chairperson, the tragedy of the
Coronavirus ought to have frog-marched the ... [Inaudible.]
... technology services of the state into the 21st century, to
make it easy for citizens to access state services and for the
state to connect more meaningfully to the citizens.

 
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It is therefore inexcusable that the State Information
Technology Agency is intimately involved in the information
technology and network connectivity problems experienced by
the Department of Home Affairs. The excuse by the leadership
of the Sita that Home Affairs is encountering the problems it
is encountering because they insisted on buying cheap network
connectivity option just does not cut it. The Sita should be
at the centre of state technologies services, and not just
with Home Affairs but across all levels of the state.
It is an embarrassment that the Sita has not been able to
assist the Department of Public Service and Administration to
move away from the Z83 requirement for those applying for jobs
in the public service, for instance.
As far as the financial statements of the said period are
concerned, the Auditor-General painted a very concerning
picture of the entity and gave it a qualified audit opinion.
The entity is simply unable to account for its own property
and technology portfolio. There was R820 millions of irregular
expenditure at the entity and R1,5 billion of irregular
expenditure incurred in the last financial years, and this has
been condemned. This leaves those responsible for this

 
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maladministration to go untouched, unaccountable, and with no
clear plan of ensuring that this does not happen again.
The entity is strategically placed to revolutionarize public
service through cutting edge innovations that remove
unnecessary red tape in the provision of public services. It
is stark with visionless leadership and overseen by a corrupt
political network that seeks to milk the state at every
available opportunity. We therefore reject this report. Thank
you.
Ms Z MAJOZI: Thank you, hon House Chair, the COVID-19 pandemic
has now been with us for more than two years, and in addition
to all the negative health impacts, it also forced us to
embrace the so-called ‘new normal’. Even today, we are
participating in a hybrid sitting of the House, with members
present physically, but with many of us joining virtually from
South Africa’s other eight provinces.
When the pandemic struck, government was forced to pilot, and
find a way to continue with the business of Parliament. The
Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and
specifically, the State Information Technology Agency, Sita,
played a central role. We would like to commend the Sita for

 
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providing seamless and secure remote access solutions services
to 8 336 officials, as well as the work done to provide video
conferencing tools, upgrading, and provisioning of
connectivity and more. Although there were a few hiccups in
the early days, it has on the whole been a smooth transition.
The Sita further provided 24/7 customer service support,
another achievement worth mentioning.
However, as the IFP, we feel it is also important to highlight
the areas where the Sita has failed to meet expectations.
Although it is refreshing to encounter a public entity that is
sustainable and financially viable, this does not give the
Sita a free pass when it comes to audit outcomes. The entity
received a qualified audit opinion largely due to their
failure to adhere to several of the standards of Generally
Recognised Accounting Practices, GRAP.
Also, of great concern to the IFP, is that the Sita reported
R820 millions of irregular expenditure and R18,6 million
fruitless and wasteful expenditures. In addition to this,
R1,5 billion was incurred in the previous year and condoned.

 
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It is never acceptable to waste or irregularly spend state
monies, but even more so, in our current economic climate,
where every rand needs to be carefully accounted for and
invested where it can have the greatest impact in relation to
service delivery.
We are pleased to hear that the Sita management has now
changed its focus to the prevention of irregular expenditure,
and we will be monitoring the success of the various measures
that have been introduced.
As the IFP, we are further in agreement with the various
committee recommendations, particularly those relating to
ensuring – I am sorry - that tender processes are transparent
and adheres to all the requirements of the PFMA and various
Treasury regulations related to procurement. This,
particularly in light of the fact that procurement processes
have been identified by various commissions of inquiry,
including the Zondo Commission. [Time expired.] ... The IFP
accepts the report.
Mr S N SWART: House Chair, we from the ACDP support the
report. We welcome the report because it does highlight a
number of the deficiencies at State Information Technology

 
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Agency, Sita. In particular, we join the committee in
expressing the concern about the qualified audit as well as
fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
I’m just ... [Sound glitch.] [Inaudible.] ... recommendation
regarding the issue of tender processes and the compliance
with the relevant legislation particularly the Public Finance
Management Act, PFMA, as well as tender regulations, should be
supported and needs to be implemented.
Chair, these are great concerns to the ACDP that a number of
organizations have lacked compliance with the PFMA, tender
regulations and in light of the fact that there are now
[Inaudible.] powers for the Auditor-General to prosecute those
[Inaudible.] that do not comply with the PFMA. With our
perspective we would like to see further action taken against
the [Inaudible.] and in the Sita’s who do not comply with
relevant legislation.
The ACDP supports the report. I thank you.
Mr C H M SIBISI: Hon Chair, the NFP notes the report of the
Portfolio Committee on Communications on the annual report and
financial statement of Sita.

 
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House Chair, 4th Industrial Revolution, 4IR, is here to stay
and Sita is the entity to drive and lead South Africa to the
realization of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Now, how can this be realized if the entity itself has an
inadequate Information Technology, IT, control environment?
This is the State Information Technology Agency, how?
Secondly, the NFP is particularly concerned about the entity’s
enormous irregular expenditure of R820 million; R560 million
of continuing from prior years and only R260 million detected
in the current years. Needless to mention the fruitless and
wasteful expenditure amounted to R18,6 million.
House Chair, some things we really need to look at them
carefully and ask ourselves if we are happy with the way our
entities, agencies and departments are performing.
We cannot accept irregular expenditures of such enormous
amounts and fruitless and wasteful expenditures under the
current fiscal constraints that we are faced with in this
country.

 
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This cannot be normal. But it looks like we have normalised
poor performance and waste of resources during the time when
we need these resources the most. Thank you, House Chair.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, too many first century
competencies is the new buzz words and we hope in future
reports we will hear about the research and the funding that
the entity has provided to establish 21st century competencies
so that all South Africans, from the primary school level, can
be geared towards achieving 21st century competencies.
We can’t carry on with stone-age competencies. Thank you very
much, hon House Chair.
Dr M BASOPU: Hon Chairperson and hon members, speaking at the
Digital Economy Summit in July 2019, President Ramaphosa
implored us to define and redefine our society and explore the
future of digitally-enabled economy that is transformative,
fair, sustainable and competitive.
The State Information Technology Agency has a fundamental role
to play in our vision and strategy of the 4th Industrial
Revolution, particularly in affording an opportunity for the

 
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Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs, and finding local
solutions.
Hon members, a critical component in the growth of the
Information and Communications Technology, ICT, sector is
directed ... [sound glitch.] [Inaudible.] ... of high demand
of spectrum.
To this extend, we are happy that the first round of the
auction went well and the ANC welcomes the bids made by Telkom
and Rain respectively.
This process, hon Chair, has indeed been long overdue and we
look forward to the economic opportunities in the digital
economy it is going to create.
As hon members might be aware, in the recent past the agency
was not in the greatest shape and as such it has resulted in
the appointed of another Administrator for repossessing of an
agency in order to address its immediate challenges, to align
with the government digital transformation plan.
The ANC is proud of the hard work and dedication that has been
demonstrated by the Administrator and his team. And we welcome

 
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the appointment of the board as the ... [sound glitch.]
[Inaudible.]
While COVID-19 caused a lot of strain and frustration to a lot
of businesses, it also provided some opportunities for the
agency to put its turnaround strategy into action by working
with the various government departments to ensure that they
are able to optimally use of digital software that will enable
them to continue to carry out their mandate to serve our
people in the midst of such deadly pandemic.
If digital terrestrial transformation was accelerated, more e-
services were developed, capacity on the cloud technologies
were optimally utilized, amongst other things.
Sita’s annual performance reflects an achievement of 72,22% of
their set annual targets as reflected in the report. While
this indicates that not all targets were met, but the ANC
welcomes the interventions they were able to make on the
development of multi e-government services and the
establishment of an e-government portal that serves as a
single point of entry to government’s electronic services. The
portal currently has more than 55 e-services available.

 
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Members, Sita also managed to reduce the backlog of the
Department of Higher Education and Training’s certificates,
which backdated to 1992, thereby supporting government’s
service delivery and satisfying the needs of deserving
candidates.
The ANC believes that government must put efforts to ensure
that SMME opportunities are created in the whole ICT value
chain and further encourage black industrialists’
participation in the country as a whole.
There must be a deliberately [Inaudible.] intervention to
promote local content, production, hardware and further create
an enabling environment for innovation in areas of software
development, application development and in the black
industrialists’ programmes to ensure the development of SMMEs.
Another key programme for the Department of Communication and
Digital Technologies is SA Connect project, which is aimed at
making sure that we bridge the digital divide that exist in
the country. Sita supported government in this initiative by
upgrading 249 sites and ultimately bringing the total number
of connected sites to 970; which means 730 new sites and 257
upgrade sites.

 
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While we acknowledge, amongst other things, the improved
financial performance and self-sustainability that the agency
is moving towards, the ANC remains concerned about the fact
that Sita received a qualified audit opinion.
The office of the Auditor-General was unable to determine the
correct carrying amount of property plan and equipment. In
addition, intangible assets were not adequately assessed for
impairment and reporting date as required by draft 26.
In conclusion, Chairperson and hon members, on irregular, on
fruitless and wasteful expenditure, during 2020-21 financial
year Sita reported R820 million irregular expenditure and
R18,6 million fruitless and wasteful expenditures. In addition
to this, R1,5 billion was incurred in the previous years and
condoned.
Finally, the ANC implores the entity to put in place
consequence management, but more fundamentally, will be to put
in place preventative mechanisms going forward.
Chairperson, therefore, the ANC supports this report and its
recommendations. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]

 
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Question put.
Objections noted.
Report agreed to.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM ON
QUARTER 1 AND QUARTER 2 PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR 2021-22
FINANCIAL YEAR
Siswati:
Mk L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE: Angitsatse lelitfuba malunga
lahloniphekile eSishayamtsetfo Savelonkhe nginibingelele,
kulolusuku lwanamuhla.
English:
Hon members, we table the report of the Portfolio Committee on
Tourism for the first quarter and the second quarter
performance for the financial year 2021-2022 for this House to
consider.
The Department of Tourism and its entity, which is South
African Tourism performed the first quarter and the second
quarter functions within a highly challenged environment, due

 
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to the COVID-19 regulations and the travel restrictions, which
were put in place to mitigate and lower the transmission of
the virus, after the discovery of the Delta and the Omicron
variants, respectively.
Hon members, the advent of COVID-19 on our shores has had long
lasting and severely devastating effects on the tourism
sector. To this day, some of the businesses have not been able
to reopen, and some are barely breaking even.
By the end of quarter one, the department had achieved 48 of
its 67 identified targets, which translates to about 71% and
in terms of its spending, it is about 23% of the budgeted
allocation. By the end of quarter two, the department had only
achieved 44 of its identified 61 targets, which translates to
about 72% and which only translates to about 35% of its budget
allocation.
The spending patterns reflect underspending for both the
department and its entity. The ANC remains concerned about the
other factors which may not be attributed to COVID-19 that
impacted negatively on the performance of the department and
its entity. These issues are such as lack of coordination,
poor working relations amongst others.

 
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South African Tourism, which is the only entity of the
department, achieved 16 of its targets, which also translates
to about 18% of its allocated budget for quarter one. For the
second quarter, the entity reported on the 24 targets which
translates to about 34% of its budget allocation, for quarter
two. However, we are concerned hon members, but we do welcome
these functions by the department because we know that tourism
in its nature, wanted people to converge and if we wanted to
mitigate against the spread of the virus, we had to put in
place restrictions which haunted the tourism sector and put it
to a standstill.
Hon members, the sector is picking up the pieces and
rebuilding, as we do so, we must be guided by the clarion call
from the President of Republic in his 2022, state of the
nation address, when he said:
We need to work together to forge a social compact to
include every South African and every part of our society
as we embark on a recovery and create jobs.
Hon members, as we envision and work towards the tourism of
the future post COVID-19, we have an obligation to put more
impetus on dismantling the systems that continue to oppress

 
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women, and strengthen our resolve to create policies that will
transform the patterns of ownership in the tourism sector and
its value chain. We must ensure that the tourism sector does
translate to the benefit of those that were previously
disadvantaged. As we do so, we must able to ...
[Interjection.]
The House Chairperson (Mr M L D Ntombela: Thank you very much,
hon member.
Ms L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE: Hon members, we table the report for
this House to consider. Thank you. [Applause.]
The House Chairperson (Mr M L D Ntombela: As there’s no list
of speakers, I now recognise the hon, the Chief Whip of the
Majority Party.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chair, I move that
the report be adopted.
IsiXhosa:
Liyandoyikisa ilungu elihloniphekileyo uMasipa. [Kwahlekwa]

 
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Declarations of vote:
Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Thank you, Mr House Chair. The frank and
honest report on the Tourism Department’s first and second
quarter performance and that of their entity, South African
Tourism, admits that it was the lockdown and associated
regulations that dismayed to the tourism hospitality and
related sectors causing the loss of hundreds of thousands of
jobs. No one is fooled when we’re told that it was coronavirus
disease 2019, Covid-19, that caused this. It was this
government, the ANC government, even the opportunities created
by this government to assist the sector proved to be
substandard using a court case, for example, as an excuse to
stop providing assistance. A reality is the usual and as the
usual the ANC that Tourism Relief Fund as well as the refund
for tour guides were an opportunity to launder money, steal
and plunder it.
When that was happening in competent and ill-qualified ANC
cadres couldn’t or wouldn’t administer its funds properly. It
is shocking to see that the department is unable to undertake
a most basic of administrative tasks such as confirming
identity numbers. As a result, and astronomical over
R13 million of these funds have been paid out incorrectly by
the Department of Tourism. Replies by the Minister to

 
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questions that are posed confirmed that officials were working
for the state and people already receiving grants for paid
out. Even dead people were paid out. What indictment on the
department and slap in the face to those who have lost their
jobs and those that are still waiting for any type of support.
Instead of trying to micromanage and control the sector by
creating training programmes that have no empirical research
indicating the demand for them in the first place, they should
rather allow the private sector itself to undertake this.
Government should instead create an environment that will make
it more attractive and more conducive for businesses to grow
in the sector and to develop it in South Africa.
Specialist companies that can respond to international bids
are best place to do this. Government should rather assist
those companies which ultimately bring in much-needed foreign
revenue and thus creates jobs and opportunities. Countries
that have assisted tourism and hospitality specialists’
businesses, actually these sectors grow and develop
exponentially. It’s not job of this department to create an
attractive environment for tourism and hospitality. It’s not
its job to be involved in actual business of tourism.

 
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Hon members of the portfolio committee agreed that we need to
encourage grow and develop tourism in rural areas, towns and
villages. However, this will only happen if this government
ensures that the required infrastructure that will make this
happen is there in the first place. Tourists will visit these
areas only if they have a meat to get there and are
comfortable and safe when they are there. Infrastructures such
as good roads, access to water and electricity is what will
ensure that new tourism opportunities occur because when the
required infrastructure is in place the private sector will do
the rest. In this context the department should focus on
improving communication, co-ordination and collaboration
between itself and other departments as this remains a major
problem in each of the departments that have different and
sometimes even are posing priorities.
Although the ANC government expects tourists to visit
tourism’s sites, they appear to fail to understand importance
of maintaining and building additional infrastructure that
will ensure that tourists visit these sites and areas now and
in the future. To illustrate this South Africa had the best
... [Inaudible.] ... tourism sector in the continent. Today,
thanks this government’s lack of maintenance modernisation,
absence of infrastructure, protection, corruption, theft and

 
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cadre deployment it’s nonexistent. Until this government
understands what it should be doing and put old fashioned
ideology aside, tourism in South Africa will not realise this
true potential for economic growth and job creation. Thank you
very much, House Chair. [Applause.]
Mr P G MOTEKA: Thank you, House Chairperson. May I please
switch off my video because there’s no network where I am?
House Chairperson, we are not going to support this report due
to the following: Statistics South Africa ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIR (Mr M L D Ntombela): Order, order! Order, hon
members! Order, hon members, give a member a chance to state
his case. EFF!
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: On a point of order, House Chair. Can our
member please be protected by the hon Chief Whip of the ANC.
Please, we know her voice is loud, but she must just ...
[Inaudible.] ... down.
The HOUSE CHAIR (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Ntlangwini, let the
member continue, please. Hon Pebane!

 
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Mr P G MOTEKA: Thank you, House Chairperson. I was
interrupted. May I proceed? Thank you very much, House
Chairperson. As EFF we will not support this report due to the
following: Statistics South Africa released a tourism 2020
report in which they noted that the foreign arrivals dropped
by 71% from just over 15,8 million in 2019, to less than
five million in 2020. It is obvious to everyone that Covid had
a huge effect on this sector, but what this period had
demonstrated to us is an inability of the leadership of the
sector to reimagine tourism during times of global
difficulties like this era of Covid.
We have been consistent in our calls for much more aggressive
approach to promoting local and regional tourism in order to
counterbalance the unsustainable reliance on foreign tourism
in the country. This week and even before Covid-19 strike,
this is because we have no leadership in this department. The
department has failed to even meet their own targets for the
first and the second quarter of this financial year. The
tourism recovery plan offers nothing of substance other than
giving the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme, Ters,
grant to an unidentified category of employees.

 
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The department merely spent 19% of its own budget for
destination movement during this period despite the grate need
for diversifying or tourism value proposition in the country.
They achieved only eight out of their 19 targets of tourism
sector support. It is difficult to understand why this has
happened because the entire tourism is on its knees as a
result of Covid. The tourism equity fund has been embroiled in
court shenanigans because of the challenge from races groups
who are fighting the prioritisation of black people to benefit
from the fund.
We do not know why the department has not approved this
decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals in the Constitutional
Court. The right-wing ... [Inaudible.] ... by the courts on
questions of transformation was still challenge because this
risk of shutting out millions of black people from active
participation in the economy. Therefore, we reject this
report. Thank you, House Chair.
Mr K P SITHOLE: Hon House Chairperson, tourism undeniably
served as a vital lifeline for our economy in 2018. The
tourism sector in South Africa contributed R130 billion to the
gross domestic product, GDP, and contributed about 4,5% of
total employment in South Africa. This sector is one of the

 
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worst hit by the devastating impact of the pandemic and it
demands our collective effort to rebuild ... and to ensure
everything possible is done to eliminate any further
breakdowns.
It is with this in mind that the IFP, on consideration of the
performance report, is greatly alarmed by the Department of
Tourism’s continuous failure to address fruitless and wasteful
expenditure, as well as the vacancy rate within the
department. The report notes 57 vacancies ... the beginning of
the financial year, of which 34 were prioritised to be filled.
The failure of the department to fill all these prioritised
positions cannot and should not be condoned. This failure
seriously hampers performance and the achievement of project
targets, and in these challenging times we need to demand
accountability. We cannot allow this.
We also ... [Inaudible.] ... the Auditor-General’s concerns
that the overall audit outcomes of the tourism portfolio have
regressed in 2020-21 and it calls for proper consequence
management. As a portfolio committee, we need to closely
monitor the quality of performance reports of this vital
sector.

 
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The IFP also echoes the portfolio committee’s concern on the
leadership instability at SA Tourism, which is further
aggravated by high vacancy rates in critical positions.
Considering the urgent need to rebuild the tourism sector,
this critical failure to ensure that the organisation is
instilled with direction and stability cannot be tolerated.
The IFP will closely monitor recruitment at the organisation,
especially the constitution of the new board by the Minister.
The IFP is vocally in support of investing in community-based
tourism projects and in ensuring that our rural communities
reap the advantage of tourism. We have also much to offer in
this unique and diverse country of ours but it is vitally
clear that very little effort is made by the department to
support community-based tourism projects.
As noted by the portfolio committee, the formulation of
targets regarding community-based tourism projects are vital
and delays in appointing service providers seriously hamper
these projects. Again, this simply cannot be tolerated,
especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. We must ensure
that we invest in our communities that are struggling to
survive.

 
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The IFP strongly supports the portfolio committee’s
recommendation and we will continue to monitor the performance
of the department. The IFP supports the report.
Mr I M GROENEWALD: Hon House Chair, the importance of the
tourism sector for the economy of South Africa cannot be
stressed enough. In the tourism sector from a macro view, you
will note that the one helps the other, thereby making one
another stronger. When tourists visit South Africa, they don’t
contribute to only one business but they contribute to the
whole value chain.
On the downside, it must also be stressed that when something
like the social unrest of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng happens,
it affects the whole value chain. The report puts it well. The
unrest had a negative impact on confidence in the country’s
social stability and brand. It isn’t limited to the social
unrest, but it’s also due to murder and general criminality
taking place at resorts, parks and tourist destinations. When
these crimes take place with no concrete action, it damages
the brand and desirability of South Africa as a tourist
destination.

 
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The report recognises that investors are watching the tourism
environment because they are not sure when the country will
likely recover. Yet, economic recovery and investor confidence
do not only fall on the shoulders of the Department of Tourism
but on that of every department in the government’s structure.
The department must adapt quicker to the ever-changing trend
of the tourism sector. The department must try to get other
departments on board with their vision for the recovery of the
tourism sector.
Lastly, the report wants to blame legal action against them
for not reaching targets. I quote, “The interdict placed on
the Tourism Equity Fund has halted the department’s efforts to
stimulate sector transformation.” This is misleading and wants
to shift the blame from the department’s failure, and by doing
so try to make the applicant the monster of the tourism
sector’s transformation plan. Yet in a case made against the
department and the then Minister, it was put clearly that when
the Minister made a directive on 6 April 2021 in terms of the
Disaster Management Act, the Minister was not legally obliged
by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act to make
eligibility for assistance from the Tourism Relief Fund
subject to the Tourism Sector Code made in terms of the Act,
and the directive was consequently unlawful.

 
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Furthermore, it was put in court by the department that the
amount of R200 million was already disbursed to recipients.
It is a shame that the department wants to blame their failure
on someone else.
The court papers further state that both parties and therefore
the department agree that the Tourism Relief Fund was a
transformation initiative and not a COVID relief fund. Shame
on the then Minister and the department for trying to misuse
the tragedy of the pandemic to enforce ANC policy onto a
market that was crippled the hardest in the pandemic. The
court found that the then Minister, Minister Ngubane,
committed an error of law, and I want to repeat, the Minister
committed an error of law. Thank you, House Chair.
Afrikaans:
Mev M E SUKERS: Agb Voorsitter, die staat het die
toerismebedryf gevaal. Van die Kaap tot bo in die Bosveld, is
daar mooi plekke, geskiedkundige blyplekke, restaurante, klein
kafees, wat hul deure vir altyd in die laaste twee jaar
toegemaak het. Die toemaak van hierdie plekkies het die gesig
van dorpies vir altyd verander en met dit honderde mense van
werke en inkomste beroof.

 
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Die ACDP ondersteun die komitee se aanbeveling dat klein
dorpies meer besigheid moet kry en dat die departement dit ’n
prioriteit moet maak. Hierdie departement is die toonbeeld van
hoe stadig die staat is om van pas te verander in ’n
veranderde omgewing.
English:
Any good business would change its strategies and reprioritise
plans to ensure growth. We however do not see it in this
report.
Afrikaans:
In die Karoo is ’n moedige vrou Karen du Toit, wie se
besigheid werk aan ons mense in die omliggende gebiede van
haar gastehuis verskaf, en vir die afgelope paar jaar het sy
jong mense opgelei en sosiale inisiatiewe ondersteun uit die
opbrengs van haar gastehuis. Sy het al twee keer ’n oordrag by
die bank aangevra net sodat haar werkers nog steeds ’n salaris
kan verdien en om die deure van haar besigheid oop te hou.
Daar is baie sulke besighede en die regering moet hulp aan
mense soos Karen verleen. Werkskepping moet die prioriteit
wees sodat meer mense hul families kan ondersteun.
English:

 
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Rural development’s needs must get a stronger focus and this
must be integrated with other departments such as Education
and Social Development, to stem migration to cities and to
retain the youth in rural areas by supporting skills
development programmes in the tourism sector within these
dorpies [villages]. What is the department and its entities
going to do to encourage investment in this sector,
specifically in our rural areas?
The ACDP is pleading with the department to make it a priority
and to invest in businesses like small businesses and to make
employment creation the main priority. Thank you, Chair.
Mr C H M SIBISI: House Chair, the NFP notes and welcomes the
report of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism. Now that we are
almost over COVID-19 we need to ensure that we enhance tourism
in the country to revive the economy and generate revenue for
the sector. The high levels of crime in the country are
affecting the tourism sector. A comprehensive plan needs to be
put in place between the South African Police Service and the
Department of Tourism on how we can assure tourists’ safety so
that they can be encouraged to come to the country.

 
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Different tourist sites must be marked now that we are moving
towards having the e-Visas, but we need to ensure that we
protect the tourists while they are in the country. We have
beautiful places and tourist attraction sites in the country.
The departments, together with tour operators, must put a plan
together on how to attract tourists in South Africa to revive
the sector and contribute towards our economic growth. Perhaps
the government could provide some incentives to the business
in the country, given the fact that they are impacted by the
energy crisis and COVID-19.
We call on the department and SA Tourism to put together a
comprehensive marketing plan that can be advertised abroad to
attract more tourists. The government is not doing enough to
revive this sector and there are also jobs at stake if we do
not act. There should be no fear of getting people to come
into the country. The Department of Home Affairs must also
come in to assist the Department of Tourism with tourists
coming into the country and ensure that when their tourist
Visas expire, they leave the country. Thank you, hon House
Chair.
M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, many of us are now tired of
hearing plenary session after plenary session about cadre

 
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deployment which is nothing more than saying protect white
dominance in this case of the tourism industry. No one must be
left out, but listening to the hon members that represent
white tourism, it looks like we are on our own. They just moan
and moan and groan. So, Al Jama-ah’s engaging the ambassador
in Indonesia and the City of Cape Town ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon members, please
...
IsiZulu:
... kuningi ukuhlokoma.
English:
Continue, hon member.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: You see, they still moan and groan.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Continue, hon
Ganief.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon House Chair. So,
Al Jama-ah has engaged the ambassador of Indonesia and
conveyed that there are opportunities to the City of Cape Town

 
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and they are very excited. There is a market of 10 million
Indonesians that want to visit Cape Town and other parts of
the country and the big five. Many Indonesians think that
there are lions roaming the streets and that the giraffes walk
around in the Bo-Kaap.
So, the tourism needs to do a bit more of marketing to make
sure that tourists can identify what they like. We have to
start levelling the playing fields. As the Al Jama-ah we
welcome the opportunity for home stays in our different
communities, and our 5 000 villages that we have in South
Africa. Tourism cannot be restricted just to the cities which
is largely white controlled.
So, Al Jama-ah welcomes this reports, and I think moving
forward we need to assist the Department of Tourism instead of
continually moaning and groaning about cadre deployment and
this and that. We need to move on and no one must be left out.
Thank you very much, hon House chair. [Applause.]
Ms S T MANELI: Hon Chairperson and hon members, the South
African economy has not been fundamentally transformed to
serve all people. Unemployment remains high, particularly
amongst the young people. The National Development Plan

 
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recognises the tourism sector as a highly labour-intensive
industry which stimulates the development of small businesses
and which generates foreign direct investment and significant
export earnings.
Based on these facts, both the public and private sector
should strengthen their collective resolve to work towards the
recovery of this sector. The ANC-led government is committed
to increase support for the tourism sector including cultural
tourism to boost its job creation capacity by adopting a wide
and a whole government approach to tourism.
Hon members, tourism is interconnected to almost every
department. We call on all government departments to
contribute to its growth and development. By so doing,
government, working together with social partners, will be
alleviating poverty from many people, women in particular who
are well represented in the sector.
The ANC welcomes the efforts that the department, together
with its provincial counterparts, is putting in place to
revamp tourism infrastructure. A few days ago, the Deputy
Minister of Tourism was officially handing over the newly
developed Baviaanskloof Interpretative Centre and Leopard

 
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Trail Hikers’ Huts in the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site in
the Eastern Cape.
While the report indicates that there might have been some
setbacks on the full implementation of the tourism recovery
plan, it remains the blueprint for the realisation of the
sector’s recovery and more impetus needs to be placed on the
implementation of the plan.
Hon House Chair, the report we are tabling today reflects a
mixture of good and bad performance. Though the COVID-19
really hit hard on the sector, there have been some noticeable
achievements and we would like to encourage the department to
do better where they didn’t do well, but also strive to excel
in those areas where they did relatively well.
In quarter one, instead of the planned 574 work opportunities,
997 were created. However, the department fell short on this
target. In quarter two instead of achieving the planned 956
work opportunities, only 395 were created. We are concerned
about the drop in the quarter two.
Hon House Chair and members, it is disheartening to witness
critical programmes that seek to address the fundamental

 
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challenges within the sector be delayed by the court
processes. The Tourism Equity Fund, TEF, was officially
launched by the President on 26 January 2021. On 26 April 2021
an order by the High Court of South Africa interdicted and
restrained Small Enterprise Finance Agency, SEFA, from
receiving, processing or making any payment to any application
for the funding from the TEF pending confirmation of the
validity of the criteria for the fund.
The court interdict by AfriForum and solidarity has delayed
180 million worth of grants from being allocated to deserving
and needy business in the sector. Under-spending and non-
achievement on the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, and
on programmes that were aimed at developing the women and the
youth in the sector is a matter of grave concern, and we would
like to encourage the department to consider making use of the
digital platforms to carryout some of their training
programmes if meeting physically is not possible.
These are the concerns to us because it is through such
initiatives that we are able to impact on the lives of our
people. Despite the challenges, we are happy that the sector
was able to achieve of all its four targets by the end of
quarter two under programme four business events. The entity

 
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was able to develop and launched its global business events
campaign. The campaign is targeted at increasing tourism’s
contribution to inclusive growth by positioning South Africa
as a business events destination. This also includes the
domestic business events campaign which is targeted at
positioning South Africa as a business events destination for
the domestic market.
Before COVID-19 the Meetings Incentives Conferences and
Exhibition industry was estimated to be worth 853 billion and
was projected to double to 1,6 trillion in 2030. That just
gives an indication of how much South Africa could leverage
from that, and we welcome the intervention made by the entity.
The ANC supports the report and its recommendations. Thank
you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Thank you very
much. That was the maiden speech from the hon Sindiswa Maneli.
Question put.
Motion agreed to (Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front
Plus and the African Christian Democratic Party dissenting)

 
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Report accordingly adopted.
Business of the House concluded.
The House adjourned at 16:17.

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